Abolition of Slavery: Key Events and Figures
The abolition of slavery was a complex process involving various influential figures and significant events. This page outlines the key dates, reasons, and individuals who contributed to the end of slavery in Britain and the United States.
Vocabulary: Abolished means to get rid of something completely. Boycotted refers to not buying something because you disagree with it. A petition is a document where people sign their names to protest against something.
The timeline of abolition includes several crucial dates:
- 1807: Britain passes the Abolition of Slave Trade Act, outlawing the British Atlantic slave trade.
- 1808: The United States passes legislation banning the slave trade.
- 1833: Britain passes the Abolition of Slavery Act, gradually ending slavery in all British colonies.
- 1865: Slavery is abolished in the United States following the Civil War.
Highlight: The Abolition of Slavery Act in 1833 included £20 million in compensation for plantation owners in the West Indies, highlighting the economic complexities of ending slavery.
The abolition movement was driven by both white and black campaigners. Notable white campaigners included:
- William Wilberforce, a wealthy MP who established the Society for Abolition of Slave Trade and collected numerous petitions.
- Thomas Clarkson, who conducted extensive research on slavery and was compelled to campaign for its abolition.
- Josiah Wedgewood, who produced thousands of anti-slavery plaques to raise awareness.
Example: In 1814, one and a half million people in Manchester signed petitions to stop slavery, demonstrating the growing public support for abolition.
Black campaigners also played a crucial role:
- Toussaint L'Ouverture led a slave rebellion in Haiti.
- Harriet Tubman, a black woman born into slavery, founded the Underground Railroad, a secret organization that helped 75,000 slaves escape.
- Olaudah Equiano, a former slave, wrote a popular book describing his experiences, which turned public opinion against slavery.
Quote: "A person who can acquire no property can have no other interest but to eat as much and labour as little as possible." This statement reflects the economic arguments against slavery.
Economic factors in the abolition of slavery were significant. Adam Smith argued that paid labor would result in harder work. Additionally, slave plantations were becoming less economically viable, causing many merchants to oppose the practice.
